Door County ranks high for alcohol abuse

A new report called "The Burden of Excess Alcohol Use in Wisconsin" estimates that alcohol abuse in Door County costs $4.3 million per year, an average of $1,399.50 per resident.

The report indicated Door County has seen seven alcohol-related deaths, 211 alcohol-related hospitalizations and 296 alcohol-related arrests. The report breaks out another $28.1 million in lost productivity, $16.4 million to taxpayers and $16.1 million to drinkers and their families.

Door County ranks the highest in all of Wisconsin for binge drinking, which is responsible for 76 percent of the economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption.

The report rated Wisconsin at 28 percent higher for annual alcohol consumption than the national average, costing Wisconsin citizens an annual $6.8 billion dollars. Wisconsin rates are the highest in binge drinking as well. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks at a time for women and five or more drinks for men.

For more information, contact the Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition at dcaodcoaltion@gmail.com or (920) 256 -0261.